The Distinguished Flying Cross
"for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight"
News and Updates
DFC Society Welcomes Returning Board Member Jim Markel and new Board Members Ron Tremain and Ben Channels
Jim Markel, Director
Jim Markel spent 7 Years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps and 3 years in the Ready Reserve. He was a “Mustang” (former enlisted) and went from being a PFC in a 105MM Howitzer Battery to a Captain/Flight Leader in an All-Weather F-8 Crusader Squadron in Five Years.
He is the recipient of Distinguished Flying Cross, Five Air Medals, and Presidential Unit Citation. The FAA recognized him with the Wright Brothers Master Pilots Award.
You can read more about Jim on the Leadership Page under About Us
Ron Tremain, Director
Ron Tremain served 24 years in U.S. Coast Guard aviation as a Rescue Swimmer and was stationed throughout the contiguous United States and Alaska. He served aboard HH-3F, MH-60, MH-65, and HC-130 aircraft and culminated over 3500 flight hours. Ron Tremain was awarded the Distinguish Flying Cross for his actions while serving as a Rescue Swimmer at Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, Oregon.
Since retiring from the Coast Guard, Mr. Tremain continues to work within the aviation industry as an Executive for Airbus where he focuses on rotary-wing, fixed-wing, and unmanned aviation.
To learn more about Ron Tremain, check the Leadership page under About Us.
Ben Channels, Director
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Benjamin Channels began his military journey in 1998 as a Private in the Army National Guard. After commissioning from Texas A&M University in 2002, he went on to serve in over 13 combat tours as an MH-60M Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) pilot with the elite 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). Notably, he commanded Special Operations units at the company level on two separate occasions and is a two-time recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
LTC (Ret.) Channels concluded his military career as Commander, 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
To learn more about Ben, check the Leadership page in the About Us section.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth inducts
medal of honor recipient
Captain Royce Williams
into the
Pentagon Hall of Fame
Coast Guard mourns the loss of Rescue Swimmer
AST2 Tyler Jaggers
The Coast Guard mourns the passing, and honors the courage, of Aviation Survival Technician (AST) Tyler Jaggers. On February 27, he was critically injured during a medical evacuation mission offshore from Cape Flattery, Washington, and later succumbed to his injuries and passed away at Madigan Army Medical Center.
Prior to his passing, he was meritoriously advanced to AST2 for his relentless drive in qualifications, the mentorship he consistently provided to swimmer candidates, and his exceptional performance across operational missions. Additionally, the Commandant of the Coast Guard awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross – one of our Nation’s highest awards for heroism in aerial flight.
Through his selfless service and sacrifice, AST2 Jaggers exemplified the finest legacies of Coast Guard service, and the sacred oath of the Aviation Rescue Swimmer community: "So Others May Live".
The Coast Guard Aviation Association
Department of Homeland Security
An Overdue Distinction for a Korean War Flying Ace
A new law allows Royce Williams, 100, to receive the medal of honor. Trump should follow up quickly.
On December 22, the Wall Street Journal published an article about retired Navy Captain Royce Willams who will soon receive the Medal of Honor:
"Buried in a recent 3,000-page defense policy bill is good news that won’t receive enough attention. The legislation would allow a living legend of naval aviation to receive the nation’s highest military honor. A Defense Department video called 100-year-old Royce Williams the “forgotten fighter ace of the Korean war.” His valor is worth remembering on its merits, and the history is instructive about the threats now facing the U.S. President Trump should move quickly to award Capt. Williams the medal of honor."
Task & Purpose published the following article that provides background about the actions leading to the final decision to award Captain Williams the Medal of Honor:
Published Dec 8, 2025 3:52 PM EST
Legendary Navy aviator Royce Williams, who shot down four Soviet MiG-15 fighters in 1952, is the inspiration for legislation that would make it easier for troops and veterans to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Photos via the U.S. Naval Institute and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
More than 70 years after he took part in the longest dogfight in Navy history, scoring four aerial victories, Royce Williams might finally get the Medal of Honor.
Over the weekend, Congress released the text for the compromise National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense policy bill outlining spending plans and goals. This year, it is a record $901 billion. Nestled into the large defense appropriations bill is Sec. 591, which would upgrade Williams’ Navy Cross to the Medal of Honor for “acts of valor during the Korean War.”
Those acts involve taking on seven Soviet MiG-15s in a 35-minute dogfight almost singlehandedly, in a battle that was kept under wraps for years despite Williams’ achievements.
On Nov. 18, 1952, Williams — then a Navy lieutenant flying in his Grumman F9F-5 Panther for his second mission that day — was with three other aviators over the Sea of Japan when seven Soviet Air Force fighter planes emerged. Two of the American planes had to return to their ships due to mechanical issues, leaving just Williams and his wingman in the skies as the Soviets closed in. As they flew by, Williams let out a burst of his F9F’s guns, scoring a hit. One MiG went down, with Williams’ wingman breaking off to chase it. Royce Williams was now alone, against six Soviet pilots in jets that were more advanced than his.
Over the course of 35 minutes, Williams banked and weaved his Panther, trying to avoid getting in the MiGs’ sights. He quickly downed a second Soviet jet, and kept using his maneuverability to line up passing shots with his limited ammo. He took out a third. Then he heavily damaged another that was eventually lost.
“In the moment I was a fighter pilot doing my job,” Williams told Task & Purpose in 2022. “I was only shooting what I had.”
Eventually, he ran out of ammunition and was forced to break off. He flew back to the Navy task force — which fired on him at first, mistaking him for the many more Soviet planes that had outnumbered him — and managed to land. After-action inspections found 263 bullet holes in his Panther. Somehow, Williams and the plane survived.
For his actions in the wild dogfight that day, Williams was awarded a Silver Star. But his actions were covered up — and his official victories listed as downing one enemy plane and damaging another — over fears it could heighten U.S.-Soviet tensions. So for the rest of his career, which included actions in Vietnam and commanding a ship, his record stayed that way, the truth kept hidden. It was only in the 21st century that retired Capt. Williams’ story came out.
For more than a decade, there has been a push to get Williams the Medal of Honor, with backers including retired Rear Adm. Doniphan Shelton and members of Congress. Three years ago, in December 2022, then-Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro upgraded his Silver Star to a Navy Cross, saying that Williams “clearly distinguished himself during a high-risk mission and deserve[s] proper recognition.” Williams received the award in January 2023.
The text in this year’s defense spending bill would authorize awarding Williams, who is now 100, the Medal of Honor and waive any time limitations on presenting him with the award.
Voting on the bill is expected this month.
